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Original poster

Anyone know what these are? Found 6 of them in my back garden. Seam friendly and like cheese!

84 replies

BlueBunny23 · 15/09/2022 07:42

I seen 6 of these all snuggled together in my back garden. Very small as I approached they didn’t budge, I went and got some cheese and they shared it. I handed it to them and they took it from my hand with their hand. I think they are super cute what ever they are anyways! But I’m pregnant and my hormones are a mess so I’m guessing I should stay well away. Are they just mice? Baby rats? Voles?

Anyone know what these are? Found 6 of them in my back garden. Seam friendly and like cheese!
Anyone know what these are? Found 6 of them in my back garden. Seam friendly and like cheese!
OP posts:
Canihaveacoffeepleasexx · 15/09/2022 10:11

BruceAndNosh · 15/09/2022 07:51

Baby alligators.
Don't be fooled by the fluffiness

I second baby alligators 🤷🏽‍♀️

mam0918 · 15/09/2022 10:31

They look like field voles to me, similar to mice but mice have long pronounced snouts while voles have rounded heads and little triangle points for snouts like in the photos.

mam0918 · 15/09/2022 10:34

ThistleSifter · 15/09/2022 09:12

I think they may be shrews; had one in my house earlier this year - they’re like tiny mice.

definately not shrews, shews have long skinny snouts and no tail they are also suprisingly tiny.

GreenManalishi · 15/09/2022 10:35

Baby rats.

Magicpaintbrush · 15/09/2022 10:37

As someone who has had 10 pet rats I can tell you those are 100% NOT baby rats.

Shellingbynight · 15/09/2022 10:40

I agree they are mice. I see them at close range from time to time as my cats bring them in, they are very cute.

The face looks a bit voley, but voles have short tails (also cute).

PutYourBackIntoit · 15/09/2022 10:40

How adorable that they shared the cheese.

GerundTheBehemoth · 15/09/2022 10:42

mam0918 · 15/09/2022 10:34

definately not shrews, shews have long skinny snouts and no tail they are also suprisingly tiny.

Show quote history

Shrews very much do have tails! (But yes, long narrow noses, also tiny eyes.)

nomoreflyingfucks · 15/09/2022 10:55

They aren't rats. I think they are young wood mice, it's their long back legs and ears. Cute little critters, but you don't want them in your house. Personally I'd just leave them be, they'll either survive or be a meal for a bird or neighbouring cat, ultimately nature will take its course.

thunderonlyhappenswhenits · 15/09/2022 10:57

I think mice too. I would put them in a box with airholes for now away from any predators

thunderonlyhappenswhenits · 15/09/2022 10:58

But you shouldn't be touching them as you're pregnant. Have you someone who could help?

CannibalQueen · 15/09/2022 11:04

Voles have very short stumpy tails. These are likely baby/young mice. I have mice in my garden. I feed them too. They winter in the garage.

RatherBeRiding · 15/09/2022 11:10

I think they might be gerbils. In which case someone has dumped them. I live pretty rurally and have horses so am intimately acquainted with baby rats and mice. They are definitely not rats and if they ARE baby mice they wouldn't be out in the open like that and tame enough to eat from your hand.

I'd hand them into the nearest animal shelter/vets surgery if I were you. Before the local cats or adult rats/adult crows make a meal of them.

UrsulaPandress · 15/09/2022 11:21

Gerbils 😂

Suzi888 · 15/09/2022 11:23

NoSquirrels · 15/09/2022 07:52

Mice. I wonder if they’re pets that have been dumped? They shouldn’t be tame to eat from your hand, they should be hiding from you. As a PP says, they’re very vulnerable to cats if they’re not wild and frightened.

^

Yeah mice run like hell. They’ve been dumped would be my guess.

ShahRukhKhan · 15/09/2022 11:27

100% not baby rats or gerbils, the nose is wrong for that.

IroningThrone · 15/09/2022 11:27

RatherBeRiding · 15/09/2022 11:10

I think they might be gerbils. In which case someone has dumped them. I live pretty rurally and have horses so am intimately acquainted with baby rats and mice. They are definitely not rats and if they ARE baby mice they wouldn't be out in the open like that and tame enough to eat from your hand.

I'd hand them into the nearest animal shelter/vets surgery if I were you. Before the local cats or adult rats/adult crows make a meal of them.

They're not baby gerbils, which have fur covered rails!

They look like mice to me.

sevenbyseven · 15/09/2022 12:18

Suzi888 · 15/09/2022 11:23

^

Yeah mice run like hell. They’ve been dumped would be my guess.

Show quote history

Baby nice wouldn't run away. Hopefully the mother will return but if not it looks like something must have happened to her Sad

BloodyHellKen · 15/09/2022 12:28

spiderlight · 15/09/2022 09:57

Oh bless them! Baby mice of some kind. I think @BloodyHellKen is right. We had some baby mice once after we'd inadvertently caught and relocated their mother - they all came wobbling out into the kitchen one by one over a couple of days and weren't at all scared of me, and I felt so guilty that I ended up hand-rearing them on kitten milk for a fortnight and then releasing them where we'd taken their mum. They might not have survived but I tried.

Poor little things. We have much experience of mice here as our cat is an avid hunter. She will find a nest, stake it out and them pick them off one by one starting with the mother I suppose as that's the one that leaves the nest for food. Unfortunately she brings them in as live 'gifts' 😳

SilentHedges · 15/09/2022 15:32

BloodyHellKen · 15/09/2022 09:29

They are young mice OP. A cat or similar has probably disturbed the nest and maybe 'relocated' the mother. Are they still there? Do you think they could look after themselves?
If not could you take them to a rescue before local cats/crows/rooks etc find them?

THIS. They are young mice, and if you are sure there is no mother, then you need to take them to your nearest Wildlife Rescue (there are plenty around the UK). I always take abandoned or injured animals to a Wildlife Rescue, as they rely on our help.

In the meantime if you could make some sort of makeshift nesting box away from predators, otherwise they'll be killed.

CockingASnook · 15/09/2022 15:41

Mice. The good news, if you like them. Is that they’ll be sexually mature in a couple of weeks and you’ll soon have two dozen more to enjoy.

sleepygal · 15/09/2022 15:52

Bonheurdupasse · 15/09/2022 07:48

They are cute OP!
I've no idea, but I'm afraid someone will come along to say that they're rats or worse...

What's worse than rats?

AmberGer · 15/09/2022 15:59

They are 100% not rats.

Rats are adorable, I have 4 of them.

Johnnysgirl · 15/09/2022 16:03

What's the difference between wood mice and house mice? Aren't they all vermin? 😬

hagathachristie · 15/09/2022 16:04

They are voles

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